Lobelia plant named ‘KLELE12473’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lobelia  plant named ‘KLELE12473’ particularly distinguished by white petals with blue corolla tubes and early flowering time, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLELE12473’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Lobelia,botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLELE12473’. The new variety resulted from a controlledcross conducted in June 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany, between femaleparent Lobelia plant named ‘LE 05 0429’, (unpatented) and an unnamedmale parent Lobelia plant. A single plant selection was subsequentlychosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings and invitro propagation in May of 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany, and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for 15generations. ‘KLELE12473’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetativecuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘KLELE12473’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. White petals with blue corolla tubes; and    -   2. Early flowering time.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant in full color. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotograph was taken in spring of 2012 on a 3-month old Lobelia plantgrown in a 10 centimeter pot in a glass pot in a glass greenhouse inStuttgart, Germany under normal horticultural practices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLELE12473’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2012 on3-month old plants grown in 10 centimeter pots in a glass greenhousewith a pinch date at week eight. Color readings were taken under naturallight. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Lobelia erinus.        -   Common name.—Lobelia.        -   Designation.—‘KLELE12473’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Lobelia plant named ‘LE 05 0429’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Unnamed.-   Growth:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Half-hanging.        -   Form.—Rounded to flat.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil, including any            flowers).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter, including any            flowers).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Very good.        -   Time to initiate roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, white roots, freely branching and            dense.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (immature and mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 137A.            Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—10.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 137B. Length: 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm.            Diameter: 0.05 cm. Texture: Smooth.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Color (when first opening).—Bluish at the apex (RHS 97A)            with yellow to greenish white at the base (RHS 150C).        -   Shape.—Inverse drop.        -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on plant.—Approximately 1            week.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per flowering branch.—10 to 15.-   Flowers:    -   -   Arrangement.—Flowers form at apical axils, with one flower            per axil.        -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—1.5 cm.        -   Flower height (vertical).—1.0 cm.        -   Immature flower.—Upper lobes color (both upper and lower            surfaces): More white than RHS NN155D. Lower lobes color:            Upper surface: More white than RHS NN155D. Lower surface:            More white than RHS NN155D and very slightly bluish.        -   Mature flower.—Upper lobes: Color (both upper and lower            surfaces): More white than RHS NN155D. Length: 0.6 cm.            Width: 0.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Lower            lobes: Color: Upper surface: More white than RHS NN155D.            Lower surface: More white than RHS NN155D and very slightly            bluish. Length: 0.9 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture (both upper and lower            surfaces): Smooth.        -   Corolla tube.—Color (both inside and outside surfaces): RHS            96D. Tube length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.25 cm.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals: 5. Color (both upper and lower            surfaces): RHS 138A. Length: 0.9 cm. Fused part: 0.4 cm.            Non-fused part: 0.5 cm. Diameter (at fusion point): 0.1 cm.            Shape: Funnel, star-shaped with fused sepals in lower half.            Apex: Acute. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces):            Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Quantity of anthers: 5. Filament length: 0.9 cm.            Filament color: Bluish white (RHS 97D). Pollen color: Grey.            Pollen amount: Sparse.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Stigma            color: Grey. Style length: 0.7 cm. Style color: RHS 142D.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLELE12473’ differs from the female parent, ‘LE 05 0429’ (unpatented)in that ‘KLELE12473’ has earlier flowering, very good branching, andweaker stems, whereas ‘LE 05 0429’ has later flowering, moderatebranching, and stronger stems.

A comparison of ‘KLELE12473’ to the unnamed male parent plant cannot beprovided as the unnamed male parent is not available for comparison.

‘KLELE12473’ differs from commercial variety ‘Tech Heplib’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,760) in that ‘KLELE12473’ has leaves with an obtuse apex andsmooth texture on both surfaces, whereas ‘Tech Heplib’ has leaves withan acute or broadly acute apex and both surfaces covered with very shorthair. Additionally, ‘KLELE12473’ has flower buds with an inverse dropshape, whereas ‘Tech Heplib’ has flower buds with an oblong shape.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘KLELE12473’ asshown and described herein.